Win or lose in life, the choice is yours!

Do you want to live a life victorious? Do you want to finish the race? Do you want to win the prize? Are you running the race to win? Are you going thru the necessary training to help you be victorious? Are you pursuing a victory that will last? Are you becoming more mature through the process? Have you plugged into a good place where you can be discipled and trained up on how to win? Have decided to get off the sideline and be a part of the race that you too may win? Have decided to become more focused so that the things of the world won’t distract you and get you off course? Do you realize the urgency and the need to get started and not be delayed? Will you stay focused and on track and refuse to get detoured? People are watching you! Will you provide a good example? Will you provide a testimony?

Here are a few key verses to consider thru these questions…

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

–from 1 Corinthians 9

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.Their mind is set on earthly things.20 But our citizenship is in heaven.And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

–from Philippians 3

7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

–from Galatians 5

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow wearyand lose heart.

–from Hebrews 12

Let’s start in humility and turn to God as living sacrifices! Let’s come to God with the feeling of remorse or penitence in our hearts! Let’s come to God with our broken hearts giving it all up to and over to Him that He may heal it and restore not only the broken, but also fill that hole that can only be filled by Jesus!

So if you haven’t encountered Jesus, why not make today your day? Why not take time to read God’s Word through the Bible and hear God speaking to you personally in and through it! Receive Jesus and then join with the body in celebrating communion!

The scriptures and the communion are two incredible ways for us to encounter with Jesus today!

The choice that makes the decision of victory or not is the choice to receive and follow Jesus!

For full content and context, click and review the devotional and today’s reading from above. Brief summary below…

1. Receive the benefits of his victory … Psalm 51:10-19

When we sin we do not lose our salvation but we may lose the joy of our salvation (v.12a). David does not want to be defeated by sin again.

All this starts with ‘a broken and contrite heart’ (v.17b). You can be absolutely certain that if you come to God in this way you will not be rejected: ‘A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise’ (v.17b).

2. Recognise Jesus and his victory … Luke 24:1-35

2 key pieces of evidence of Jesus’ victory over death:

Jesus’ body was absent

Jesus himself was present

The Scriptures and the sacraments are two of the ways in which we can encounter Jesus today. Jesus will continue to reveal himself to us as we study the Scriptures and as we break bread together. If you want to experience the presence of Jesus – make sure that you do these things on a regular basis.

3. Reflect the victory of Jesus … Joshua 11:1-12:24

This passage continues the theme of Joshua’s victories (‘great victory’, Joshua 10:10). Here we read of how the kings joined forces to fight against Israel (11:5). But the Lord says, ‘Do not be afraid of them’ (v.6). The Lord ‘gave them into the hand of Israel’ (v.8). God gives them victory wherever they go: ‘So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel’ (v.23).

the victory of Joshua was never complete.

Jesus alone who brings a complete victory. He is the one to whom all the Scriptures point. He is the great victor and the source of every possible victory in our own lives.

Forgiveness

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. --from Matthew 6

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Annual Reports

Interested in what was posted prior to WordPress? You can find them here:
http://x.co/2005ToEter when I started blogging back in 2005, prior to the move from WL Spaces to WP. (download to be able to view the page rather than the source behind it)

Keys to Growth

FEAR NOT, JUST BELIEVE
Disciple them in the ways of the LORD.
- Embrace others where they are.
- Outreach to others as they are.
- Meditate on the Word of God daily.

Memory Verse: Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man--not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.

The Roman Road

I. Romans 3:10
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

II. Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

III. Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

IV. Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

V. Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

VI. Romans 10:9-11
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

VII. Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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Do you want to talk about this? Would you like to pray with someone? Leave me a comment or send me a message as I would be happy to do that for you.